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Spud glory: Favourite chip flavour up for RM3mil prize

Lay’s Cappuccino and Wasabi Ginger, two flavours up for the taste test.

Flavour contest includes coffee-flavoured potato chips.

Brace yourselves, USA, for cappuccino-flavoured potato chips.

Of the more than 14 million flavour suggestions, the world’s largest potato chip manufacturer Lay’s has narrowed down the list to four finalists in its crowdsourced flavour contest: Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese, Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger, Wavy Mango Salsa and an eyebrow-raising Cappuccino.

Yes, that’s right, Cappuccino.

This week, Lay’s potato chips announced the four finalists in its “Do Us a Flavor” contest who will go on to vie for spud glory and take home a whopping US$1mil (RM3.2mil) jackpot.

The new test chips will hit store shelves later this month (July) across the US in a nationwide taste test that will invite consumers to vote for their favourite flavour.

The massive promotional stunt is an attempt to appeal to the country’s evolving flavour palate and engage consumers in the age of social media and crowdsourcing.

Recently McDonald’s UK also launched a crowdsourced campaign inviting fans to create their own sandwich recipe that would be served in restaurants nationwide later this year.

Meanwhile, the coffee-flavoured chip idea – perhaps the most unexpected of the four – comes from PhD student Chad Scott who wanted to marry his love of java with chips. Lay’s Cappuccino does not contain coffee or caffeine.

Pringles has also played with the concept of salty-sweet flavours with limited-edition holiday editions like Pecan Pie, White Chocolate Peppermint and Cinnamon and Sugar.

Consumers can vote for their favourite flavour once a day from July 28 to Oct 14 onwww.DoUsAFlavor.com or by using the hashtags #SaveCappuccino, #SaveBaconMac, #SaveWasabi or #SaveMango via Twitter, Instagram or Vine.

The winning flavour will be revealed this November.

Meanwhile, early results are in from taste tests conducted in newsrooms across the US (in the name of investigative journalism and all) and it looks like wasabi ginger gets top billing.